SPRINGVALE, Maine — Applications are now available for the next Master Gardener Volunteer training with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension in York County. Participants will receive over 65 hours of in-depth horticultural training beginning Jan. 16 and running through early June. The training site will be the Anderson Learning Center, Springvale, Maine, and the classes will be held on Wednesday mornings from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This winter’s program will focus on landscaping and ornamentals. UMaine Extension specialists, county educators, and other experts will provide training on soils, botany, composting, herbs, seed starting, woody and herbaceous ornamentals, landscaping, pruning, pest management and much more.

Master Gardener Volunteers are required to give back 40 hours of volunteer time providing outreach education in gardening and community service through ongoing outreach projects such as demonstration gardens, the Maine Harvest for Hunger, “Kids Can Grow,” and Garden Angel programs. If you are interested in participating in the 2013 training, call UMaine Extension in York County at (800) 287-1535 or 324-2814 for an information packet and an application form. The deadline for applying is Dec. 14.